'Doctor Who' Showrunner Talks Search for New Doctor

Ever since last month's announcement that 'Doctor Who' star Matt Smith would be leaving the series at Christmas, the Internet has been abuzz with questions of just who exactly could be his replacement. The anticipation for the announcement has reached a fever pitch -- but here's the thing: the new Doctor hasn't even been cast yet!

That's right -- they're still looking for a new actor to take on the role. The search is still on, showrunner Steven Moffat told Entertainment Weekly recently.

So, when can we expect the Doctor to be cast/announced? Moffat gave his traditional sort of non-answer: "Unless we have an insane plan, we’ll announce a new Doctor within days of finalizing the new Doctor," he said. "Because it’s very very hard to keep any kind of a secret. [. . .] I think we’ll go public pretty fast."

They're still casting, then? Well, what about the next biggest question on fans' minds: What gender will the Doctor be? There's been talk of a female incarnation replacing Smith, but Moffat was typically coy: "I’m not going to comment at all on the direction we’re going. Sorry!" came his frustrating reply. If anything, that seems like an encouraging soundbite for pro-female Doctor fans. But, knowing Moffat, it's probably just meaningless teasing.

But we'll DEFINITELY know by Christmas. "That's not the hope -- that's the plan," according to Moffat. "It’ll be the traditional regeneration. You know, the eleventh will fall and the twelfth shall rise. And you’ll see that in the closing moments of the show. I mean, you sometimes sit and think, 'Are there better ways of doing it? Is there a different way of doing it?' But quite honestly what could be better than that? It’s just too exciting."

What do you think? Who would you like the next Doctor to be?

'Doctor Who' will return November 23 for its 50th anniversary special.